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OTTAWA, Dec. 4, 2017 /CNW/ - The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, today issued the following statement on the release of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development report entitled Preserving Canada's Heritage: the Foundation for Tomorrow".

"Our Government welcomes the report and recommendations on heritage preservation and protection in Canada of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. We are committed to responding to the recommendations contained in the report as part of our ongoing commitment to protecting Canada's heritage places.

I thank all the committee members and witnesses for their interest in the preservation of Canada's heritage and for their thoughtful consideration of this important matter. This report is timely. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, our heritage places have reflected the rich and diverse history of our nation and provided an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our past.

This year, we are also marking the 100th anniversary of National Historic Sites in Canada. The protection of our heritage places has never been more important. Parks Canada is investing in the preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of national historic sites across the country, places like the Fortifications of Québec, Fort Henry, the Fortress of Louisbourg, Dawson City, and Province House. Our government has supported additional investments in Parks Canada's places to preserve our cultural heritage and ensure that visitors are able to continue enjoying national historic sites, while also supporting the tourism sector and local economies. We have expanded the National Cost-Sharing Program to preserve heritage places, such as the North Pacific Cannery and Medicine Hat Clay Industries, owned by not-for-profit organizations, communities, and provinces and territories, designated 93 new national historic sites, people, and events of historic significance and inaugurated the first ever Canada's Historic Places Day.

Celebrating our history is important and investing in our national heritage places is helping; however, there is still much more to be done.

The findings and recommendations of this report are ambitious and go beyond protecting and preserving heritage places administered by the Parks Canada Agency. A government response will require a thorough review and engagement with provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, Indigenous partners, and heritage stakeholders. It is only through a unified and collaborative approach that we can create a path forward and secure the future of Canada's heritage places, now and for future generations."